SHIELD THERAPEUTICS (STX) – Pharmaceuticals Price: 11.65p +3.6%P/E: n/aMarket Cap: £123mYield: n/a Positive news from the late-stage AIM-listed drug company specialising in iron deficiency, with the US approving the extension of its ACCRUFeR indication for adolescents 10 years and above in addition to adults. The indication was supported by positive Phase 3 clinical trial results which confirmed the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Shield’s new oral formulation for children presenting with iron deficiency anemia. Our View The next step for Shield is to file for a further extension to include children one month and above, together with the submission of…

STRIX GROUP (KETL) – Consumer Price: 46.25p +14%P/E: 13.7xMarket Cap: £105mYield: n/a There was big news today from AIM-listed safety control firm Strix with the agreement to sell its Australian filtered water business Billi for an enterprise value of £110 million or around 48p per share. Strix bought Billi in November 2022 for £38 million, and although it hadn’t planned to sell, the deal represents a return of around three times its initial investment. Most of the cash will be used to pay off the company’s £68 million debt and £10 million will be set aside for a share buyback.…

SERAPHIM SPACE INVESTMENT TRUST (SSIT) – Investment Trusts Price: 99p +4%NAV: 119.6pMarket Cap: £225mYield: n/a Major news from the world’s first listed SpaceTech investment company in the form of a €1.7 billion deal between ICEYE, the trust’s largest holding, and German defence giant RHEINMETALL (RHM). The contract will see ICEYE support RHM in providing Germany’s armed forces with high-tech satellites from the end of this year through to 2030 with options for extension. Our View In its recent financing round, ICEYE was valued at €2.4 billion meaning SSIT’s stake represents over a third of the trust’s net asset value. After…

APPLIED NUTRITION (APN) – Consumer Price: 250p +1.2%P/E: 22.5xMarket Cap: £620mYield: n/a We reported on Applied Nutrition earlier this month after it raised guidance for a second time (9 December), and today the firm has delivered more good news. Supermarket group Morrison has agreed an exclusive three-year deal to formulate, produce and sell Applied Nutrition-branded meals and food products, including balanced ready meals, food-to-go sandwiches and salads as well as bread and cheese. Our View There’s no mention of the sums involved in this deal but with the new products being rolled out across 400 Morrison stores from early January…

NEXT (NXT) – Retail Price: £136.60 +0.1%P/E: 18.9xMarket Cap: £15.9bnYield: 4.2% In line with the firm’s long-standing commitment to return what it calls truly surplus cash to investors, Next is handing back £421 million in the form of a B share with a value of 360p. The company says it has spent time reviewing the different ways to repay the cash and a B share scheme is more effective than a special dividend. Our View Obviously free money is no bad thing, and Next seems convinced B shares are the way to go, so investors will no doubt approve the…

METLEN ENERGY & METALS (MTLN) – Industrials Price: €41.90 +2.8%P/E: 11.8xMarket Cap: €5.4bnYield: n/a Greek-based metals and energy group Metlen has surprised the market this morning with the news its M Technologies unit will deliver 200 specialist assemblies to Germany’s KNDS for the latest Leopard main battle tank. It turns out Metlen and KNDS have worked together for 23 years, and the firms are in ‘advanced negotiations to deepen their cooperation in other types of defence systems’. Our View Metlen joined the market in September and due to its market cap went straight into the FTSE 100 index, yet few…

FRP ADVISORY (FRP) – Business Services Price: 140p +1.8%P/E: 15.4xMarket Cap: £330mYield: 5.4% AIM-listed business advisory firm FRP posted a solid trading update for the six months to 31 October showing positive organic growth in revenue and profits. Turnover rose 12% to £87 million, with 5% organic growth and 7% coming from acquisitions, despite a strong prior-year period, while EBITDA rose 3% to £23 million giving a margin of 26.4%. The group has net cash of £16.5 million and is looking to add a sixth pillar to its business with real estate advisory. Our View FRP had a banner year…

NAKED WINES (WINE) – Consumer Price: 70.9p +7%P/E: n/aMarket Cap: £52mYield: n/a The 2025 renaissance at AIM-listed Naked Wines continues, with the firm raising its full-year profit guidance in its latest trading update. EBITDA for the year to March 2026 is now expected to be towards the top of the range of expectations, although revenue will be at the lower end of guidance due to a strategy of ‘removing inefficient investment’. Our View Today’s news is a further positive step, although the chances of the shares ever getting back to their old rating – boosted as they were by pandemic…

CURRY’S (CURY) – Retail Price: 138.6p +9.5%P/E: 10.3xMarket Cap: £1.47bnYield: 2.2% Electricals retailer Curry’s has beaten forecasts on all metrics with its half-year trading update, confirming its performance continues to strengthen. Group sales were up 8% with LFLs up 4%, adjusted EBIT was up 38% and adjusted pre-tax profit was up a blistering 144% on last year. Our View A good set of results all round, with market share gains in the UK & Ireland and a ‘notable’ step forward in profits in Norway where it is number one in an improving market. It’s also pleasing to see top-line improvements…

GAMES WORKSHOP (GAW) – Consumer Price: £197.65 +1.3%P/E: 35.4xMarket Cap: £6.95bnYield: 2.7% Another month and another dividend announcement from fantasy figure-maker Games Workshop, this time 50p per share, taking the payout so far in FY26 to £3.75, which is already well ahead of last year’s £2.65 total. Our View We’ve always admired Games Workshop’s business model and no-nonsense approach to investor relations, where any surplus cash it finds down the back of the sofa gets handed back. The shares aren’t cheap, but they aren’t as crazily priced as some stocks, and so long as the company keeps delivering, we’re fans.…